NEW ON DVD: Rock of Ages' is a whole lot of fun

An adaptation of the Tony-winning jukebox musical, “Rock Of Ages” (2012, Warner, PG-13, $30) uses the songs of Foreigner, Journey, Def Leppard, Pat Benatar and Bon Jovi to tell the story of a handful of characters living and working on the Sunset Strip, circa 1987.

“Prometheus” (2012, Fox, R, $30) Three decades after “Blade Runner,” director Ridley Scott returns to the sci-fi genre with a beautifully photographed, tension-packed piece of work co-scripted by “Lost” creator and Teaneck, New Jersey native Damon Lindelof. The ending is a little wonky. But that’s no reason to avoid this strangely mesmerizing movie which tracks the journey of space travelers (Noomi Rapace, Idris Elba, Charlize Theron, Logan Marshall-Green) to a mysterious planetary moon. Manning the ship is an android played to droll perfection by Michael Fassbender. It resembles Scott’s “Alien” but has a resonant power all its own. Extras: featurettes, deleted scenes, screen tests and commentary by Scott.

“Peace, Love and Misunderstanding” (2012, IFC, R, $28) After her husband (Kyle MacLachlan) asks her for a divorce, a strait-laced Manhattan attorney (Catherine Keener) packs up her teenage kids (Elizabeth Olsen, Nat Wolff) and heads to Woodstock to stay with her estranged, hippie mom (Jane Fonda). Life in Woodstock turns out to be a tonic for Keener who falls in love with a sexy furniture maker (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) and begins to loosen up. The heart of the story is between Keener and Fonda and when they’re onscreen together, the movie ignites. Sure, “Peace, Love” is too glib but, thanks to the top-notch cast, it also has a surprisingly buoyant spirit. Extras: featurette.

Advertisement

“The Raven” (2012, Fox, R, $30) In the latest from “V For Vendetta” helmer James McTeigue, author Edgar Allen Poe (John Cusack) is re-imagined as a crime-solver determined to catch a nutcase who’s offing his victims in ways inspired by Poe’s own short stories. Think “Se7en” set in 19th Century Baltimore. The film serves up one gruesome murder after another but the whole thing is curiously uninvolving thanks to McTeigue’s decision to prize gore over character development and real feeling. Extras: deleted scenes, featurettes and McTeigue commentary.

“The Lady” (2011, E1, R, $25) Action maestro Luc Besson pumps plenty of life into the true story of Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi (Michelle Yeoh), the pro-democracy leader who was held for nearly 20 years under house arrest in Burma. For about 60 minutes, the film works as both a tribute to Kyi’s politics and a look at her decades-long romance with her British academic husband (David Thewlis). Besson’s visuals — and the inspired performances of Yeoh and Thewlis - can only take the story so far, though. “The Lady’s” second act is a lot less interesting than the first. Extras: featurette.

“The Courier”(2012, Well Go, R, $25) A suitably seedy Jeffrey Dean Morgan stars as the title character, a mysterious figure who is paid to deliver a briefcase to a killer who’s wanted by everyone from the Feds to a certain Vegas kingpin (Mickey Rourke). Despite making great use of its New Orleans locations and a spectacular opening scene set atop an abandoned rollercoaster, “The Courier” misses by a mile. Extras: featurette and deleted scenes.

“Barricade” (2012, WWE, PG-13, $20) One of the first non-wrestling flicks from the newly-revamped WWE Studios is a supernatural thriller that takes a dive almost as soon as it begins. “Will and Grace’s” Eric McCormack stars as a widower who decides to get away from it all by taking his kids (Connor Dwelly, Ryan Grantham) to a cabin in the woods. A wicked snow storm ensues and all hell breaks loose inside the house. You’re never sure if a supernatural force has been unleashed or if McCormack is simply losing his marbles. Either way, “Barricade” isn’t very scary. Outside of a few bumps in the attic, nothing much happens. Extras: four featurettes.

“E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial: Anniversary Edition” (1982, Universal, PG, $20) It’s the first time on Blu-ray for Steven Spielberg’s coming-of-age classic about a boy (Henry Thomas) and his alien (voiced, in part, by Debra Winger). The movie, scripted by Melissa Mathison, could have been all concept and no content but instead it’s rich in suspense, emotion and humor (thank you, Drew Barrymore). Break out the Reese’s Pieces and enjoy. Extras: new interview with Spielberg, production footage, deleted scenes and featurettes.

“Dead Ringer” (1964, Warner, unrated, $20) Hot on the heels of “Whatever Happened To Baby Jane?” (which also arrived Tuesday on Blu-ray), Bette Davis shot this enormously enjoyable thriller about an impoverished bar owner who decides to seek revenge on her wealthy twin for stealing away the man she loved. After killing her sister and making it look like a suicide, Davis goes off to live in her sister’s mansion where she has to deal with a snoopy cop (Karl Malden) and her sister’s secret lover (Peter Lawford). It’s the guiltiest of guilty pleasures. Extras: commentaries and vintage featurettes.

“Magical Mystery Tour” (1967, Capitol, unrated, $30) Looking sumptuous on Blu-ray, the Fab Four’s breeziest film is full of wonderful moments from the singalong to John Lennon’s “I Am The Walrus” to Paul McCartney dancing on a mountain top while “Fool On The Hill” plays on the soundtrack to George Harrison sitting cross-legged performing “Blue Jay Way.” You’ll need the fast-forward button, though, for those scenes without the Fab Four. Extras: featurettes, re-edited performances, deleted scenes and a newly-recorded commentary by McCartney who, more or less, directed the picture.

“The Game” (1997, Criterion, R, $30) What do you give the man who has everything? That’s the question facing the younger brother (Sean Penn) of a wealthy investment banker (Michael Douglas). As it turns out, Penn comes up with a humdinger of a gift - a role-playing game that sends Douglas on a life-changing journey through one hellish encounter after another. The more you think about this deeply-weird, David-Fincher-directed thriller, the less plausible it becomes. But there’s no denying how uniquely fascinating the film is from its flashback-heavy beginning to its hot-mess of a finale. Extras: commentaries by Douglas and Fincher, featurettes and alternative ending.

“Born To Be Bad” (1950, Warner Archive, unrated, $25) Nicholas Ray’s little-seen soaper is a sly treat that winds up being as persuasive as its heroine, a sneaky gold-digger named Christabel (Joan Fontaine). When Chris arrives in San Francisco, she sets her sights on her roommate’s (Joan Leslie) wealthy fiancé (Zachary Scott) even though she’s already fallen in love with a fledging novelist (Robert Ryan). Expect snappy dialogue, first-rate performances and edgy, sophisticated characters who suck you right in. Extras: a fascinating alternative ending.

“Hart of Dixie: The Complete First Season” (2011, Warner, unrated, $60) “The O.C.’s” Rachel Bilson hits her stride as Zoe Hart, a Manhattan physician who relocates to BlueBell, Alabama to practice medicine. In between delivering babies and treating poison ivy, Bilson attracts the attention of two hotties (Scott Porter, Wilson Bethel.) It might sound silly but the show has a good sense of humor about itself as well as plenty of heart and sting. Extras: gag reel, unaired scenes and featurette.

“The Office: Season Eight” (2011, Universal, unrated, $50) It’s the beginning of the end for the Emmy-winning, Scranton-set series, which wraps up its run at the end of the ninth season. While the first season without Steve Carell isn’t quite up to the standards of previous years, there’s more than enough laughs to go around. Andy (Ed Helms) assumes management duties but first he has to contend with interference from CEO Robert California (James Spader). Hapless Dwight (Rainn Wilson) stages his own power grab when he leads a team to Florida to work under Nellie Bertram (“Dr. Who’s” Catherine Tate.) And the Andy/ Erin (Ellie Kemper) relationship finally comes to a boil. Extras: over 100 minutes of deleted scenes, a blooper reel and webisodes.

Amy Longsdorf is a freelance entertainment writer. Her DVD reviews appear Sunday in The Mercury.